Fuses: To Serve and Protect!

Let’s face it: Accidents happen. Minimizing the collateral damage from an accident is important. When you have a mobile electronics system that includes installing an amplifier in your vehicle, a discussion about fuses or circuit protection should take place before the installation begins. Choosing the right device to ensure your system works as intended and is safe in the event something goes wrong is very important. Let’s talk about fuses.

What is a Fuse?

A fuse is a device that will disconnect a circuit when too much current passes through it. Fuses typically incorporate a small piece of metal with a specific amount of resistance. As current passes through the fuse, the piece of metal heats up. Up to a certain temperature, the circuit remains functional. If the current level increases, the fuse heats up more and will eventually fail, which protects the power source and load.

My Wire Needs a Fuse?

Two common locations in our audio systems need protection. Any power connection to the battery needs a fuse. Any electronic device connected to the vehicle electrical system should also have a fuse.

The fuse at the battery is there to protect the vehicle in the event of a short circuit. If it is installed incorrectly, the power wire may rub against a sharp object and wear through the jacket. Once the conductor touches the chassis, a short circuit will occur. Left unprotected, the only limiting factors in how much current passes is the internal resistance of the battery, the resistance of the power wire and the resistance of the connection to the chassis. In most cases, hundreds of amps of current will flow – if we don’t have a fuse on the battery.

Imagine a car with a big stereo system. There may be an upgraded AGM battery under the hood and a few huge amplifiers in the trunk. What if the unthinkable happens – the car is involved in an accident, and the chassis shorts to the power wire? Without a fuse on the power wire connection to the battery, both the wire and the battery will heat up very quickly and could easily start a fire.

Fuses in Our Devices

Recently, we experienced an instance where a radio was blowing the 15 amp fuse in its power harness as soon as it was plugged in. Even with all the speakers disconnected, it kept blowing fuses. It turned out there was an improperly soldered terminal on the internal amplifier in the radio. This poorly soldered connection was shorting the power connection to the chassis of the radio and, subsequently, to the ground. The 15 amp fuse in the harness prevented the copper traces on the circuit board from being destroyed. Our technician was able to clean up the solder connection, and we put the radio back into service.

Types of Fuses in Car Audio

More and more new fuses are introduced to automobiles each year as manufacturers strive to reduce weight and packaging sizes. On the aftermarket side, we use three common fuse styles.

AGC and AGU Fuses

AGC and AGU fuses are constructed from four components: a fusible link, a pair of end caps and a glass tube. The manufacturer solders the fusible link to one end cap, then slides the glass tube over the link before soldering on the other end cap. Many radio harnesses and lower-power devices use AGC fuses. For years, the larger-diameter AGU fuses were very popular in amplifier installation kits.

The problem with these fuses is that the quality and reliability of the internal solder connections can affect their performance. We have seen brand-new fuses out of package not work because the solder connection on one cap was incomplete.

Another consideration for AGC and AGU glass fuses is how we connect them to our power wire. In most cases, a terminal is pressed against the end cap using a sprung metal connection. As this connection heats up, it can loosen. For low-current applications, AGC fuses are acceptable. For moderate- to high-current applications, there are better alternatives.

ATC, ATM and Maxi Fuses

This style of fuse is composed of two components: a plastic housing and a stamped metal piece that includes the electrical connection tabs and current-limiting link. These fuses are compact and easy to install. They eliminate the connection that plagues the glass fuses, but they still suffer from problems when it comes to connecting them to the power wire. In almost all applications, sprung metal tabs are responsible for pressing the tabs of the fuse against the wire terminals. These can fail over time.

A common point of failure is the loop-type under-hood fuse holder that are included with aftermarket lighting kits. These molded holders include two female terminals connected to the input and output wire. After time and many heat cycles, these terminals can loosen, and the resulting resistance will cause the holder to fail. It should be noted that the current required to heat up the connection to the failing point is often less than what is required to blow a fuse.

ANL and Mini-ANL Fuses

In the mobile electronics industry, ANL and Mini-ANL fuses are the preferred option when it comes to protecting devices from over-current conditions. These fuses are constructed in the same way as an ATC, ATM or maxi fuse, with a single metal plate that is stamped to provide the connection terminals and the fusible link. A plastic housing snaps over or rivets to the device to enclose the link.

Where these fuses differ from the other two styles is in how they are connected to the wiring. A set of large blocks connects to the wire. Most of these blocks use set screws. The fuse is then attached to these blocks with a large-diameter bolt. Your installer can (and should) tighten the bolt to ensure that the electrical connection is solid and secure.

Protect Your Vehicle and Equipment

Whenever you have your installer add an electrical device to your vehicle, it must be fused. Even a small-diameter wire for an auxiliary USB charge port, a radar detector or LED lighting can cause an impressive amount of damage when overheated. It will not only melt through its jacket, but will melt the wiring around it. Proper circuit protection is cheap insurance against having to call the insurance company. Your local mobile electronics specialist retailer would be more than happy to discuss how and where they fuse the equipment they install.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Audison Voce II Speakers

We’ve said dozens of times that speakers are by a long way the most important part of any audio system, be it for a home or car. The team at Audison in Italy went to great lengths to create a truly carte blanche set of speaker solutions when they developed the Voce II series of speakers. Sharing design concepts from the premier Thesis line, Voce II speaker solutions deliver value and excellent performance for music lovers. Let’s check them out!

AV 1.1 II Tweeters

Let’s look at the AV 1.1 II tweeters first. Designed with a 1.1-inch Tetolon fiber soft dome, these are among the very few tweeters that offer good upper-midrange performance while delivering high-frequency extension to 40 kHz. They have a resonant frequency under 900 Hz, making them an ideal partner for the three-inch AV 3.0 II mids or the 6.5-inch AV 6.5 P II woofers. They can be filtered at 1.8 kHz with a fourth-order active filter.

Another key feature of the AV 1.1 II tweeters is the Any Install Faceplate (A.I.F.) installation parts included in the kit. The A.I.F. component gives your installer several choices for grilles or OE-style mounting rings available to simplify and add elegance to any installation.

Audison Voce II — The AV 1.1 II tweeters include a selection of grilles and mounting adapters to give your installer options during installation.

AV 3.0 II Midrange

The 3.5-inch AV 3.0 II midrange speakers have been designed to offer excellent clarity, detail and output from a relatively shallow design. In fact, it’s almost 20% shallower than the driver it replaces. The speakers use a rubber surround for reliability. The cone is semi-pressed paper that offers an excellent balance of strength, rigidity and damping.

At the heart of the driver is a large 26mm glass fiber voice coil to help dissipate heat. This contributes significantly to the 50-watt continuous and 100-watt peak power rating. Crucially, Audison implemented a copper shorting ring in the motor assembly to reduce inductance and improve upper midrange output. These midrange speakers have a 3.2-ohm impedance that balances efficiency and sound quality from your chosen amplifier. The AV 3.0 II speakers have a resonant frequency of 150 hertz, allowing your installer to cross them over low enough to create a stable soundstage across the vehicle.

AV 6.5 P II Woofers

The AV 6.5 P II Woofers can serve as dedicated midbass speakers with the AV 3.0 II midrange, or as midwoofers when paired with the AV 1.1 II tweeters in a two-way system. The woofers are based on a cast-aluminum chassis and use semi-pressed pulp paper cones with an IIR rubber surround. An aluminum shorting ring in the motor assembly reduces inductance and improves upper midrange performance. The woofers feature a 40mm voice coil, which helps them handle 150 watts of power.

The AV 6.5 II and the AV 3.0 II component drivers include both the classic Faston spade terminals and a set of OEM-style automotive connectors with pigtails to make electrical connections.

AVX 6.5 II Coaxial Speakers

Audison has combined the Voce II woofer and tweeter technologies into a single point-source coaxial called the AVX 6.5 II. This 6.5-inch driver features the same semi-pressed paper cone and IIR rubber surround concepts as the dedicated woofer. In the center of the driver is a 25 millimeter Tetolon-dome tweeter. The driver components can be actively filtered with a crossover point at 3 kHz. The kit includes four passive crossover modules, two for the tweeters and two for the woofers. The tweeter crossover includes a 0 or -1.5 dB attenuation switch, and the woofer filter networks offer a selectable mid contour control.

Component Sets

Audison offers three component sets in the Voce II line. The AVK 6 P II and the AVK 6A P II include the 1.1-inch tweeters and 6.5-inch woofers. The A designation in the latter kit denotes that passive crossovers are not included as the system is intended for active filtering with a DSP-equipped amplifier.

There is another component set called the AVK 6 S II, which features a shallower 6.5-inch woofer, a 1-inch tweeter, and a passive crossover network. Power handling is reduced to 125 watts on this kit because the woofer has a smaller (but still relatively large) 36 mm voice-coil diameter.

Upgrade Your Driving Experience with Audison Voce II

The new Audison Voce II speakers combine premium technologies that genuinely improve performance. They have been crafted with installer-friendly features that save time. When it’s time for a premium speaker upgrade for your car, truck or SUV, visit an authorized Audison retailer and ask for a demonstration of the new Voce II speakers. You can find an authorized dealer using the locator tool on the Audison website. Be sure to follow Audison on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn about the amazing mobile audio solutions they offer.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Steering Wheel Audio Control Integration

When you go shopping for a new radio for your car, one of the many questions the product specialist should ask you is whether your existing radio has steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Almost every aftermarket radio has provisions to accept a signal that will give you steering wheel audio control functions like volume, source selection, tracking and power. Here’s how it all works.

Factory Control Functionality

There are two common types of steering wheel control interfaces. The first is resistive; the second is data. Systems that use resistors often have two wires connected to the switches. Each switch presents a different resistance value when pressed. The factory radio sees these different resistances as different voltages and the computer in the radio responds appropriately. There are usually two wires so a multitude of switches can have well-separated resistance values to ensure functions will never overlap.

A small computer is built into the steering wheel controls switches in vehicles that use data communication for the steering wheel audio controls. This computer has inputs dedicated to each switch and its function. When you press a switch on the steering wheel, the computer sends a digital communication to the computer in the radio. Often, this communication takes place on the vehicle’s CAN data network.

Connection to Aftermarket Radios

In North America, almost every radio is Steering Wheel Remote Control Ready. Being “Ready” means the radio has a connection on the back to accept a serial data communication signal. The communication language used on the radio connection is not the same as that used in the vehicle. Thus, you will require an interface module to make everything work. Companies like iDatalink, Axxess and Pacific Accessory Corporation (known in the industry as PAC) all offer interfaces that can be programmed to understand and translate the information from the vehicle to something that is compatible with your radio.

Steering Wheel Audio Control Installation

When your tech is installing the new radio in your vehicle, he has three tasks to complete to make the steering wheel audio controls work. First, he must wire the controls into your vehicle. In many cases, the installer will use a “harness saver” or “wire harness adapter” to connect a set of bare wires to the factory radio plug for power, illumination and speaker wire connections. This adapter usually includes the steering wheel communication wires from the vehicle.

Once the installer completes the electrical connections, the next step is to program the module to understand the commands from the vehicle. Some interfaces have software built into them to recognize commands from the vehicle automatically.

Another method of programming the interfaces uses a website that will allow the installer to select the year, make, model and trim level of the vehicle, and program the interface to recognize the correct commands.

Finally, the interface has to be programmed to send the correct commands to the new radio. Each brand of radio has a set of dedicated and unique command codes.

Additional Options

Over the past few years, many vehicle owners have chosen to upgrade their factory radios to add Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free calling to their vehicle. New cars have telephone control buttons on the steering wheel, but older ones don’t. Several of the interface modules have the ability to send different commands to the aftermarket radio, depending on how long you press and hold the steering wheel buttons. For example, a quick tap on the Volume Down button will, of course, turn the volume of the aftermarket radio down. You can have the button programmed so pressing and holding it for a couple of seconds to tell the radio to answer an incoming Bluetooth phone call.

The list of compatible functions varies by vehicle and the make and model of the aftermarket radio.

Custom Applications

One unique feature of the steering wheel control interface is that your installer could build a set of custom controls for you. Let’s say you are building a custom car, and you want to add a nice sound system. In most applications like this, the builder will install the aftermarket radio in the glovebox, under the seat or in the trunk of the vehicle. But how can you control the radio if you cannot reach the controls? Your installer could mount a set of switches in the center console and then program the switches, through an interface module to control the aftermarket radio.

Some installers and fabricators have gotten quite creative with these switch installations. A power mirror adjustment switch, for instance, serves as a great solution for volume and tracking functions.

Your Retailer is Ready to Help

When it is time to install a new radio in your vehicle, drop by your local mobile electronics specialist retailer. They would be happy to show you the latest in car audio source units and explain how they can integrate it into your vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: KICKER L7T Truck Enclosures

Adding a subwoofer system to a pickup truck is one of the best audio system upgrades you can make. The mobile audio specialists at KICKER have developed an entire series of truck-specific enclosures that use their world-famous square L7T thin subwoofers to deliver maximum bass. Let’s take a look at the enclosure solutions offered by KICKER.

KFDL7T102 Subwoofer System for Ford Trucks

The KFDL7T102 is a dual custom-made down-firing MDF enclosure that houses a pair of 10-inch L7T square subwoofers. Combined, the enclosure can handle up to 1,000 watts of power. That’s not peak power, we’re talking 500-watts of continuous power handling per driver. That’s a great match for the CX800.1 or even better, the LX850.1 amp.

The enclosure features integrated bracing to ensure the panels are vibration-free, so your bass sounds tight and controlled. Rounded front corners match the contours of the seats for a tidy appearance and leg clearance while entering or exiting the vehicle. The system sensitivity is 87.1 dB at 1W/1M and the enclosure has a nominal impedance of two ohms.

The KFDL7T102 works with 2009 through 2026 Ford F-150 Crew Cab and 2017 through 2026 Super Duty Crew Cab trucks. Removal of under-seat items like inverters, spare tire tools or floor mats may be required to complete the installation of these subwoofer solutions.

KICKER L7T Truck Enclosures — The KFDL7T102 enclosure fits F-150 and Super Duty trucks and features a pair of down-firing 10-inch L7T subwoofers.

KGMDL7T122 Subwoofer Enclosure for Chevy and GMC Trucks

The KGMDL7T122 is another custom enclosure that is designed for 2008 and newer Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. The enclosure is contoured to fit the front corners of the bench seat and clear the hinge mechanism at the back. As with all the KICKER L7T truck enclosure, the KGMDL7T122 is finished in thick black carpet for great looks and durability.

The KGMDL7T122 has a pair of 12-inch L7T thin subwoofers that are wired to a nominal impedance of two ohms. Continuous power handling on the enclosure is an impressive 1200 watts, making it an ideal match for the CX1200.1 or the LX1250.1.

KRDL7T102 RAM Classic and K5RDL7T102 Fifth-Gen Truck Enclosures

If you own a RAM truck, then KICKER has a solution that should work with your application. The KRDL7T102 enclosure is designed for Classic-Series RAM trucks including 2002 through 2018 Ram Quad Cab, 2009 through 2018 Crew Cab, 2003 through 2026 RAM 2500/3500 Quad Cab, 2009 through 2026 RAM 2500/3500 Crew Cab and 2019 through 2024 Ram 1500 Classic Quad and Crew Cab trucks. The K5RDL7T102 enclosure is designed for fifth-generation Ram Crew Cab trucks from 2019 through 2026. If your truck has a flat floor under the back seat with no molded cup holder, then the K5RDL7T102 is the right solution for you!

Both of these enclosures feature a pair of 10-inch L7T thin subwoofers in an up-firing configuration. The subwoofers are protected with mesh grilles to protect the cones from running into the seat bottom. Power handling is 1,000 watts continuous and the system has a nominal impedance of two ohms.

KTDL7T102 for Toyota Tacoma Trucks

If you have a 2005 through 2023 Toyota Tacoma four-door pickup truck, then the KICKER KTDL7T102 is designed specifically for your application. This enclosure fits behind the rear seat instead of underneath it, so cab space is retained. The enclosure is home to a pair of square L7T 10-inch subwoofers and is wired to present a two-ohm load to the amplifier. A notch in the enclosure allows it to clear the split seat hinge mechanism. Grilles are included to protect the woofers.

Of course, the enclosure is wrapped in durable black carpet for a tidy appearance. A pair of KICKER badges let everyone know you are rocking bass provided by one of the best in business.

Upgrade Your Pickup Truck with KICKER Today!

If you have a Sierra, Silverado, RAM, F-150 or Tacoma, then KICKER has a subwoofer enclosure solution that will breathe new life into your car stereo. Many new solutions are coming soon, including a tailgate subwoofer for the Jeep Wrangler! For the latest information, check out the KICKER website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube! You can find an authorized KICKER retailer near you using the Dealer Locator on the website.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Audison APBX 10 AS2

One of the best upgrades you can make to your car audio system is to add a high-quality subwoofer. Whether you are working with a simple factory-installed radio and speaker system or planning a studio-quality listening environment, accurately reproducing bass frequencies is important. The folks at Audison have a full line of compact subwoofer enclosures that can transform your system from good to awesome. In this spotlight, we will look at the Audison APBX 10 AS2.

Features of the Audison APBX 10 AS2

The APBX 10 AS2 is a low-profile 10-inch active subwoofer enclosure. The term “active” means this unit has an integrated amplifier. Essentially, with some wiring to feed it power and a signal from the radio, this is all you need to add bass to your car, truck, or SUV.

The enclosure measures 17.3 inches long, 13.2 inches wide, and stands a mere 6.2 inches tall. The amplifier is mounted on one of the thin side panels, and the subwoofer is designed to fire down into the floor or back wall of your car or truck. Feet are included to raise the enclosure off the floor so the subwoofer doesn’t hit anything. The enclosure has rounded corners for a little extra style.

The amplifier included with the APBX 10 AS2 is rated to provide up to 400 watts of power. Audison uses a 0.16-ohm low-impedance driver in the enclosure, so the amp doesn’t need a switching power supply. This design is said to boost system efficiency.

The Audison APBX 10 AS2 looks neat and tidy once installed.

Amplifier and Integration Features

The amplifier can accept speaker-level or preamp signals to ensure integration with factory-installed and aftermarket source units is simple and reliable. In high-level mode, the amp will accept up to 8 Vrms on the speaker leads. In low-level mode, the maximum input is 4 Vrms.

The amp has a three-position remote turn-on function switch. The amp can be activated when 12 Volts is applied to the remote terminal. Alternatively, in DC mode, the amp’s circuitry will monitor the speaker wires for the DC offset voltage from a BTL amplifier. Finally, if neither of those options works with your source unit, the amp can detect an electrical audio signal to bring things to life.

In terms of signal processing, the amp has a crossover that can be adjusted from 50 to 300 hertz and features a second-order Butterworth alignment. The internal crossover can be defeated with the Lo-Pass/By-Pass switch if you have a source unit or signal processor with integrated filtering. There is also a bass boost function that lets your installer dial in a bump of up to 6 dB at 45 Hz to add a little extra thump to your music. Finally, there’s a fixed fourth-order (-24 dB/Octave) infrasonic filter set to 24 Hz.

Audison includes their HRC AP remote level control with the APBX 10 AS2. This remote connects to the amp via the included 3.5mm jack. Your installer can mount the control on the dashboard or in the center console to give you control over the bass level. While the original gain setting should provide a nice balance, sometimes we want a little more or a little less bass, depending on our mood or the choice of music.

The amplifier includes a feature called Dynamic Bass Tracking (DBT). This circuitry monitors the audio input in real time to prevent signals that could cause distortion, keeping your music from sounding bad. This circuit will also prevent damage to the woofer.

Audison Subwoofer Features

The subwoofer integrated into the enclosure is based on Audison’s APS 10 series of drivers. The subwoofer features a heavy-gauge stamped-steel chassis to which a single ferrite magnet is affixed. Cooling vents in the basket, under the spider mounting plateau, help to keep the voice coil assembly cool. There are also vents in the cone to allow hot air to escape from the motor assembly.

The cone is made of pressed paper with a water-repellent coating to prevent it from absorbing moisture in humid or damp climates. A polypropylene dust cap keeps debris out of the magnetic gap and gives the driver’s face a clean, classy appearance.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Audison Today!

If you want to take your car audio system to the next level, drop by an authorized Audison retailer today and ask about the APBX 10 AS2 subwoofer enclosure. Audison offers a similarly designed, but slightly more compact 8-inch solution called the APBS 8 AS2 if space is at a premium.

You can find an authorized retailer using the locator tool on the Audison website. Be sure to follow Audison on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn about all the amazing audio integration solutions they offer.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

What is a Fuse?

My Wire Needs a Fuse?

Fuses in Our Devices

Types of Fuses in Car Audio

AGC and AGU Fuses

ATC, ATM and Maxi Fuses

ANL and Mini-ANL Fuses

Protect Your Vehicle and Equipment

AV 1.1 II Tweeters

AV 3.0 II Midrange

AV 6.5 P II Woofers

AVX 6.5 II Coaxial Speakers

Component Sets

Upgrade Your Driving Experience with Audison Voce II

Factory Control Functionality

Connection to Aftermarket Radios

Steering Wheel Audio Control Installation

Additional Options

Custom Applications

Your Retailer is Ready to Help

KFDL7T102 Subwoofer System for Ford Trucks

KGMDL7T122 Subwoofer Enclosure for Chevy and GMC Trucks

KRDL7T102 RAM Classic and K5RDL7T102 Fifth-Gen Truck Enclosures

KTDL7T102 for Toyota Tacoma Trucks

Upgrade Your Pickup Truck with KICKER Today!

Features of the Audison APBX 10 AS2

Amplifier and Integration Features

Audison Subwoofer Features

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Audison Today!

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